UGC NET Paper 1: Held on 5th Dec 2021 Shift 1 (Previous Year Paper)

Given:

The number of players participating in cricket form Canada

The number of players participating in Badminton from India.

Formula:

Percentage = (Value/Total Value) × 100

Calculation:

The number of players participating in cricket from Canada = 80

The number of players participating in Badminton from India = 45

⇒ \(\frac{80}{45} × 100\)

⇒ 1.7777 × 100

⇒ 177.77%

∴ The total percentage is 177.77%.

Given:

Total number of players participating in cricket from Canada, Spain and USA 

The number of players participating in Football form India, UK and Australia.

Calculation:

Total number of players participating in cricket from Canada, Spain and USA.

⇒ 80 + 70 + 60

⇒ 210

Total number of players participating in Football from India, UK and Australia.

⇒ 65 + 70 + 90

⇒ 225

Total number of players participating in cricket from Canada, Spain and USA and in football from India, UK and Australia.

⇒ 225 + 210

⇒ 435

∴ The total number of players is 435.

Given:

The number of players participating in Badminton from all the six countries

The number of players participating in all the games from Australia.

Formula:

Percentage: (Value/Total Value) × 100

Calculation:

Total number of players participating in Badminton from all countries.

⇒ 45 + 40 + 95 + 85 + 95 + 65

⇒ 425

Total number of players participating in all the games from Australia

⇒ 90 + 85 + 95

⇒ 270

⇒ \(\frac{Total number of players participating in Badminton}{Total Number of players from Australia} × 100\)

⇒ \(\frac{425}{270} × 100\)

⇒ 1.57 × 100

⇒ 157%

∴ The percentage of players is 157%.

Given:

Country A represents the highest number of players participating in Football

Country B represents the lower number of players participating in Badminton.

Calculation:

The highest number of players participating in football is from Australia 

Australia = 90

Lower number of players participating in Badminton are from UK

UK = 40

∴ (A, B) = (Australia, UK)

Given:

60% of the players participating in all games from Spain are male

and 30% of the players participating in all games from Australia are female.

Formula:

Percentage:- (Value/Total Value) × 100

Calculation:

If 60%of the players participating in all games from Spain are male 

Total number of players from Spain

⇒ 80 + 70 + 95

⇒ 245

60% of players are male = (Male Player/100) × Total no. of players.

⇒ \(\frac{60%}{100} × 245\)

⇒ 0.6 × 245

⇒ 147

30% of the players participating in all games from Australia are female.

Total number of players from Australia

⇒ 90 + 85 + 95

⇒ 270

30% of players are female

⇒ \(\frac{30}{100} × 270\)

⇒ 0.3 × 270

⇒ 81

The ratio of 60% of players from Spain are male and 30% of players from Australia are female

⇒ \(\frac{147}{81}\)

⇒ \(\frac{49}{27}\)

∴ The ratio of male players form Spain and female players from Australia is 49/27.

The success of education depends on adapting teaching to individual differences among learners. Educational psychology helps in understanding the developmental characteristics of the students, their individual differences related to intelligence and personality, their adjustment abilities, and their attitudes toward learning.

Key Points

• Individual differences are characteristic of all living organisms. Differences run crisscross in all directions.
• The most easily observed differences are physical and developmental.
• In an educational setup, understanding individual differences helps in
• Planning course material and training program. It is being recognized that all students do not learn in a similar way. Some are fast learners, others are slow.
• Similarly, all teachers are not alike; some have good expression and the ability to explain.
• Understanding individual differences between the teachers and their thoughts can help in matching teaching and learning styles for better- academic results.

Important Points

• Aims of education, curriculum, and method of teaching should be linked with individual differences considering the different abilities and traits of individuals.
• Designing the Course Materials: The curriculum should be designed as per the interest, abilities, and needs of different students.
• As every student in the class is different in every aspect. e.g: Socially, economically, psychologically. It's crucial for the teacher to have a special and different attitude towards his strategies of teaching.

Therefore with the above explanation, we can conclude that designing Course Materials,  teaching Strategies and planning helps a teacher understand individual differences.

Thus (A), (B), and (C) only are correct options.

The correct answer is: "Teaching to comprehend the concepts"

Key Points

• Understanding Level of Teaching:
• This level focuses on enabling students to comprehend and grasp the meaning of concepts, principles, and ideas.
• It goes beyond mere memorization of facts and emphasizes understanding the underlying logic or reasoning.
• The teacher helps learners make connections between prior knowledge and new information, thereby building a strong conceptual foundation.
• At this level, students are encouraged to interact with the content meaningfully by discussing, analyzing, and interpreting the ideas.
• Examples of activities at this level include explaining concepts, drawing relationships, and applying learned knowledge to solve problems in familiar contexts.
• Importance in Education:
• This level is essential for developing critical thinking and reasoning skills in learners.
• It prepares students for higher-order learning levels, such as application and analysis.
• A clear understanding of concepts enables students to apply their knowledge in real-life situations effectively.

Additional Information

• Imparting factual information:
• This corresponds to the memory level of teaching, which involves rote learning and memorization of facts, figures, and information without understanding the underlying concepts.
• While important for building a knowledge base, it does not foster critical thinking or comprehension.
• Teaching to explore the field of knowledge:
• This aligns with the reflective level of teaching, where students are encouraged to critically analyze and solve complex problems, often involving independent exploration of knowledge fields.
• It is a higher level of teaching that comes after the understanding level and requires a solid foundation in conceptual understanding.
• Teaching to develop rational thinking:
• This is an advanced teaching goal associated with the reflective level, where students are trained to think logically, evaluate evidence, and make reasoned judgments.
• It emphasizes self-directed learning and critical inquiry, which builds upon the understanding level.

Open learning is an innovative movement in education that emerged in the 1970s and evolved into fields of practice and study. The term refers generally to activities that either enhance learning opportunities within formal education systems or broaden learning opportunities beyond formal education systems.

Important Points

• The SWAYAM PRABHA is a group of 40 DTH channels devoted to telecasting high-quality educational programs on a 24X7 basis using the GSAT-15 satellite.
• It is an Indian Massive open online course (MOOC) platform. The SWAYAM initiative was launched by the then Ministry of Human Resource Development (M.H.R.D.) (now Ministry of Education), Government of India under Digital India to give a coordinated stage and free entry to web courses, covering all advanced education, High School, and skill sector courses.

Thus a group of DTH channels devoted to telecasting educational programs 24 × 7 basis is swayam prabha.

Additional Information

• MOOC: The traditional classroom is limited in how many students it can serve, but millions of people around the world want — and need — quality education. MOOCs are massive open online courses. The concept, spearheaded by edX, began as an opportunity for organizations to offer online courses to students all over the world, in the millions, for free.
• Swayam: SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active–Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) is a program initiated by the Government of India and designed to achieve the three cardinal principles of Education Policy viz., access, equity, and quality
• DD Gyan Darshan is a state-owned television channel telecasting from Doordarshan, Kendra, and IGNOU.
• It is an educational media initiative of MHRD in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Prasar Bharati, and ISRO with IGNOU as the nodal agency.

Learning is a permanent change in behavior or attitude of a person, because of direct and indirect experience or education and training, and practice.

Key Points

• “Learning is any relatively permanent change in behavior that occurs as a result of experience”.
• The definition comprises some essential elements: Change process, Setting behavioral actions, need for a meaningful experience, and permanent change.

Important Points

• Non-formal learning takes place outside formal learning environments but within some kind of organizational framework.
• It arises from the learner's conscious decision to master a particular activity, skill, or area of knowledge and is thus the result of intentional effort.
• Informal learning takes place outside schools and colleges and arises from the learner’s involvement in activities that are not undertaken with a learning purpose in mind.
• Informal learning is involuntary and an inescapable part of daily life; for that reason, it is sometimes called experiential learning.

Therefore non-formal learning is which takes place outside the formal educational structure and intends to achieve predetermined educational achievement. 

Hence options (D) and (E) only are correct.

In the ‘learner-centered’ approach the ‘learner’ or ‘child’ and not the ‘teacher’ is the main focus of the educational program. It emphasizes ‘learning’ rather than ‘teaching’.

Key PointsLearner-centered approach advocates:

• flexible curriculum
• varied methods of teaching
• varied learning experiences/tasks/activities
• varied learning time
• varied methods of assessing children’s progress

In a child-centered classroom:

• The child and not the teacher is the focus of the entire process of teaching-learning.
• The child is not a passive but an active participant in the classroom process.
• Reflects planning of teaching-learning and its monitoring jointly by teacher and children.
• The curriculum and the instructional materials serve as a means to foster the child’s all-around development and are not ends in themselves.
• Teacher adopts a variety of teaching-learning strategies to address the needs of all children at the same time.
• Evaluation of the child’s attainment is done to ensure the child’s progress and not as a means of passing judgment on the child’s abilities and achievement. it is diagnostic as well as remedial.
• The teacher is a friend and a facilitator for the children and allows the center of the action to shift in the classroom from herself/himself to the children.

 Additional InformationTeacher centered method :

• Here the teacher casts himself/herself in the role of being a master of the subject matter. The teacher is looked upon by the learners as an expert or an authority. Learners, on the other hand, are presumed to be passive and copious recipients of knowledge from the teacher.

Therefore  with the help of above information we can say that Cooperative learning is a Learner-Centered Teaching Method.

Validity generally refers to how accurately a conclusion, measurement, or concept corresponds to what is being tested.

Key Points

• Ecological validity refers to the realism with which a design of evaluation setup matches the user's real work context.
• It is about how accurately the design or evaluation reflects the relevant characteristics of the ecology of interaction, i.e., its context in the world or its environment.
• Ecological validity is the degree of correspondence between the research conditions and the phenomenon being studied as it occurs naturally or outside of the research setting.

Hence the findings by social science researchers are relevant to the everyday life of people in natural settings is called ecological validity.

 Additional Information

• Validity of Relevance: Relevance simply means that you have to make sure that the elements within your measurement procedure reflect the construct you are interested in studying.
• Social validity is a term coined by behavior analysts to refer to the social importance and acceptability of treatment goals, procedures, and outcomes.

Research is defined as careful consideration of study regarding a particular concern or problem using scientific methods. According to the American sociologist Earl Robert Babbie, “research is a systematic inquiry to describe, explain, predict, and control the observed phenomenon. It involves inductive and deductive methods.”

Important Points

• Turn-taking occurs in a conversation when one person listens while the other person speaks.
• As a conversation progresses, the listener and speaker roles are exchanged back and forth (a circle of discussion).
• In conversation analysis, turn-taking is a term for the manner in which orderly conversation normally takes place.

Turn-taking is the notion that people in a conversation take turns in speaking hence employed in critical discourse analysis**.

Additional Information

• Historical Research: Historical research is a qualitative technique.
• Historical research studies the meaning of past events in an attempt to interpret the facts and explain the cause of events, and their effect on the present events.
• Phenomenological research is a qualitative research approach that seeks to understand and describe the universal essence of a phenomenon.
• The approach investigates the everyday experiences of human beings while suspending the researchers' preconceived assumptions about the phenomenon.
• Secondary data analysis refers to the analysis of existing data collected by others.
• Secondary analysis affords researchers the opportunity to investigate research questions using large-scale data sets that are often inclusive of under-represented groups while saving time and resources.

Research is defined as careful consideration of study regarding a particular concern or problem using scientific methods. According to the American sociologist Earl Robert Babbie, “research is a systematic inquiry to describe, explain, predict, and control the observed phenomenon. It involves inductive and deductive methods.”

 Key Points

• A research proposal is a document proposing a research project, generally in the sciences or academia, and generally constitutes a request for sponsorship of that research.
• Proposals are evaluated on the cost and potential impact of the proposed research, and on the soundness of the proposed plan for carrying it out.

Important Points

• Naming the research is an important part of the research proposal. It should tell the user (In 25 words or less) what the researcher intends to research and how he intends to do it.
• The objective of the Research: In this section, the researcher expands on the title of your research project to articulate in full detail the aims and objectives of the research. A detailed description of the research question, the purpose of the research, and a description of the research approach (methodology and method) should be included.
• Hypothesis: A hypothesis is a statement that introduces a research question and proposes an expected result. It is an integral part of the scientific method that forms the basis of scientific experiments.
• Data Analysis: Data processing generally begins with the editing and coding of data. Data are edited to ensure consistency across respondents and to locate omissions,

Therefore the selection of a topic, framing of a research question, framing of hypotheses, and collection of data are the steps in the writing a research proposal. 

Hence correct order is (A), (B), (C), (E) only.

Research is a systematic inquiry to describe, explain, predict, and control the observed phenomenon. It involves inductive and deductive methods.

Important PointsStatement I: Integration of qualitative and quantitative research methods is a trend accepted in social science research. 

• Qualitative research is research using methods such as participant observation or case studies that result in a narrative, descriptive account of a setting or practice.
• Sociologists using these methods typically reject positivism and adopt a form of interpretive sociology.
• Integration is an intentional process by which the researcher brings quantitative and qualitative approaches together in a study.
• Quantitative and qualitative data then become interdependent in addressing common research questions and hypotheses.

Thus the statement I is correct.

Statement II:  some critics say that research methods have 'fixed epistemological and ontological implications' and as such mixed methods are not desirable. 

• Combining different methods requires extra resources, such as time and money.
• Combining the two types of data means to benefit from both the detailed, contextualized insights of qualitative data and the generalizable, externally valid insights of quantitative data.
• The strengths of one type of data often mitigate the weaknesses of the other.
• It can be more complex to carry out. it may require more expertise to collect and analyze data, and interpret the results, than using one method would. ​

Thus statement II is also correct. 

Therefore with the help of given information we can say that both the statements are true.

Grounded theory is a systematic methodology that has been largely applied to qualitative research conducted by social scientists.

 Key Points

• The research methodology involves the construction of hypotheses and theories through the collecting and analysis of data.
• The grounded theory involves the application of inductive reasoning.

 Important Points

• Constant comparison is the data-analytic process whereby each interpretation and finding is compared with existing findings as it emerges from the data analysis.
• It is associated with qualitative research more than with quantitative research.
• The constant comparative method is a process developed by Glaser and Strauss and used in grounded theory.
• It is used to sort and organize excerpts of raw data into groups according to attributes and organize those groups in a structured way to formulate a new theory.

Hence, with the help of the above information, we can say that Constant comparison is used in Grounded Theory.

Additional Information

• Feminist theory informs both research questions and the methodology of a project in addition to serving as a foundation for analysis. The goals of feminist educational research include dismantling systems of oppression, highlighting gender-based disparities, and seeking new ways of constructing knowledge.
• Relational theory is a broad framework for various psychodynamic models of practice that, in part, consider how the self develops in relationship to other-selves and is based on patterns from this interactive process.

Communication is the act of giving, receiving, and sharing information -- in other words, talking or writing, and listening or reading.

Key Points

• Verbal Communication encompasses all communication using spoken words, or unspoken words as in the case of sign language.
• Nonverbal Communication is what is actually being said.  
• ​The tone, facial expressions, body language, hand movements, and eye contact.
• Nonverbal communication, including but not limited to body language, has a significant often subconscious influence on most in-person interactions.
• The way one sits or stands hand gestures, and tone of voice all carry a message about your attitude and emotions.

Hence we can say that nonverbal communication is subconscious.

Communication is the act of giving, receiving, and sharing information -- in other words, talking or writing, and listening or reading. Good communicators listen carefully, speak or write clearly, and respect different opinions

Mistake Points

• As per the official answer key of UGC, (A), (C) and (E)  are correct answer.
• Source credibility  also a barrier of effective communication as it  is the degree to which people believe and trust what other people and organizations tell them about a particular product or service.
• But the Existing knowledge of the receiver also can be a barrier to accept the new knowledge.
• So, A, B, C and E all are correct but we have marked the answer as per the official answer key.

​ Important Points

Barriers of Communication: A communication barrier is anything that prevents us from receiving and understanding the messages others use to convey their information, ideas and thoughts. They can interfere with or block the message you are trying to send.​

• Linguistic Barriers: The language barrier is one of the main barriers that limit effective communication. Language is the most commonly employed tool of communication
• Psychological Barrier: There are various mental and psychological issues that may be barriers to effective communication.
• Some people have stage fear, speech disorders, phobia, depression, etc. All of these conditions are very difficult to manage sometimes and will most certainly limit the ease of communication.
• Emotional Barrier: The emotional IQ of a person determines the ease and comfort with which they can communicate.
• Physical Barriers to Communication: These are the most obvious barriers to effective communication. These barriers are mostly easily removable in principle at least. They include barriers like noise, closed doors, faulty equipment used for communication, closed cabins, etc.
• Cultural Barriers of Communication: Different cultures have different meanings for several basic values of society.

Therefore pre-judgment, source credibility,  and existing knowledge of the receiver will be included in the barriers in communicated messages.

Hence correct options are (A), (C), and (E).

Communication is the sum of all things, and one person does it when he wants to create understanding in the minds of another.

• It involves a systematic and continuous process of telling, listening, and understanding.

Important Points

 Assertion (A): Western communication tradition emphasizes the cognitive ability of students.

• According to western communication theory, the primary goal of communication is to influence through persuasion.
• Vygotsky's Cognitive Development Theory argues that cognitive abilities are socially guided and constructed.
• As such, culture serves as a mediator for the formation and development of specific abilities, such as learning, memory, attention, and problem-solving.

Hence assertion is correct.

Reason (R): Language precision does not have a place in the western system of communication vis-a-vis students' ability for knowledge appropriation. 

• Language, as a tool for communication with other people, also has attributes of precision and accuracy.
• The precision of language depends on the number of different words and grammatical structures that are available to us to convey our intentions.
• The accuracy of our use of language depends on our ability to choose words, phrases, and sentences that convey to our audience the ideas that we intend.
• Language precision has an important place in the western system of communication vis-a-vis students' ability for knowledge appropriation.

Hence reason is wrong.

Therefore with the given information, we can conclude that the Assertion is Correct and the reason is wrong.

Given:

Number is 72

Calculation:

Prime factors of 72 

⇒ 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 × 3

⇒ 2³ × 3²

Prime factors of 112

⇒ 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 7

⇒ 2⁴ × 7

So we will have to multiply 72 by 2 × 7 = 14 to produce a multiple of 112.

∴ The correct answer is 14.

An argument is a claim defended with reasons. It comprises a group of statements with one or more statements (premises) supporting another statement (conclusion). 

Key Points

• An argument is an act of presenting reasons to support an individual’s position or point of view.
• Arguments are the basis of persuasive communication.

Important PointsStatements I:  The terms 'Valid' and 'invalid' apply to arguments.

• A deductive argument is valid if and only if it takes a form that makes it impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion nevertheless to be false. Otherwise, a deductive argument is said to be invalid.
• The inductive argument involves the claim that the truth of its premises provides some grounds for its conclusion or makes the conclusion more probable; the terms valid and invalid cannot be applied.
• Validity and invalidity apply only to arguments, not statements.

Thus this statement is true.

Statement II:  The terms 'Cogent' and Non-cogent' apply to statements. 

• A cogent argument is an inductive argument that is both strong and that all of its premises are true.
• An uncogent argument is an inductive argument that is either weak or has at least one false premise.
• To say an argument is cogent is to say it is good and believable; there is good evidence that the conclusion is true.
• A weak argument cannot be cogent, nor can a strong one with a false premise(s). The concept of true premises sometimes bothers people.

Thus this statement is false.

Statement I is true but Statement II is false

A fallacy is the use of invalid or otherwise faulty reasoning, or "wrong moves", in the construction of an argument, which may appear stronger than it really is if the fallacy is not spotted.

Important Points

• The fallacy of equivocation occurs when a key term or phrase in an argument is used in an ambiguous way, with one meaning in one portion of the argument and then another meaning in another portion of the argument.
• A standard three-step syllogism uses three terms — the things that are being linked by the line of reasoning. If A, then B. If B, then C. Therefore if A, then C. The fallacy of four terms occurs when, exactly like it says, four terms are used instead of three. In most cases, a single term (B) is used two (or more) times, in different contexts with different meanings; and yet the argument treats the two usages as exactly the same since the same term was used.
• It's best explained by the given example*.*
• A dry crust of bread is better than nothing
• But nothing is better than a big juicy steak.
• Therefore, a dry crust of bread is better than a big juicy steak.
• This uses two different meanings of the word "nothing." The first line uses "nothing" to mean "a lack of food", while the second line uses "nothing" as "no such thing exists."

Similarly in the given example "All people who live in Varanasi are people who drink tea, and all people who drink tea are people who like it. We may conclude, then, that all people who live in Varanasi are people who like it."

There is an equivocation on the term "People who like it."  because the same term is used in two different ways, It commits the fallacy of four terms making four distinct terms, although only appearing to be three.

Hence only (A) and (D) is correct.

Additional Information

The existential fallacy occurs when we erroneously suppose some class or group has members. In other words, statements may be true about classes or groups even if no members of the class or group exist.

A Web Browser is a piece of software that allows you to access information on the Internet.

Key Points

• The web browser retrieves information from a web server and then displays the webpage.
• A web browser can be used to visit any website.
• The major task is to retrieve information from the Internet and make it accessible to users.
• When we type a URL into a browser then the webserver redirects us to that website.
• Web browser plugins are required to execute Java applets and flash content.
• Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox are WWW browsers.
• Microsoft released Internet Explorer in 1995 and in 2002, Mozilla Firefox was released.

​​​Thus, Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox are WWW browsers. 

Additional Information

• In 1990, Tim Berners Lee invented the first web browser, "WorldWideWeb.
• More examples of web browsers are 
• Safari,
• Tor Browser
• Lynx
• Opera
• Google Chrome

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of seventeen indicators that all UN members have agreed to work toward in order to better the country's future.

Key Points

• The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an intergovernmental agreement.
• The SDGs were created during the Rio+20 summit in 2012 in Rio de Janeiro and are a non-binding declaration.
• The United Nations General Assembly's Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Objectives set 17 goals with 169 targets and 304 indicators to be met by 2030.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thus, the aim of sustainable development Goal number 14 is to To conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources

Wind power generating is the conversion of wind energy into electric energy. 

Key Points

• Wind power plant operation is more complicated than simply constructing wind turbines in a windy location.
• A wind power plant must carefully examine where to place wind turbines as well as the speed and frequency with which the wind blows at the location.
• The capacity and operating characteristics of wind electricity generation are affected by wind speed fluctuations.
• A minimum wind speed of 12-14 km/h ( ~4 to 5 m/s) to begin turning and generating electricity.
• Strong winds of 40-60 km/h (~12 to 14 m/s) to generate at full capacity and winds of less than 90 km/h (25 m/s).
• The optimal range of wind speeds for wind power generation lies between ~4 - 12 m/s.
• The device which measures the average daily wind speed is an anemometer.

Thus, The optimal range of wind speeds for wind power generation is ~4 - 12 m/s.

Additional Information

• In 2020, the top five nations in terms of wind electricity generation and their respective shares of global wind electricity generation were:
• ​China–30%
• United States–21%
• Germany–8%
• United Kingdom–5%
• India–4%

Women may play a critical part in the world's progress and sustainability if women are empowered through education and employment.

Key PointsStatement I: Women research scholars find it difficult to cope with the dual responsibilities of research activities and family responsibilities. 

• Women researchers have to perform dual responsibility of research activities and family responsibilities.
• The progress of a career in academic science has been directly hampered by family duties and career stress.
• In these case, women researcher gives preference to family.
• These obligations have hindered them from taking advantage of certain crucial changes that have presented themselves.

​Thus, Statement I is correct.

Statement II: There is a significant dropout of women research scholars in our country.

 

• India women research scholars faced a lot of problems such as male-dominated laboratories, dual responsibilities, harassment concerns, maternity, etc.
• According to NITI Aayog,  a large number of qualified women scientists opt for undergraduate or school level teaching assignments, and only 15-20 per cent join tenured faculty positions in research institutions and universities in India and others completely drop out.

​Thus, Statement II is correct.

Therefore, Both Statement I and Statement II are correct.

Indian culture was kept by ancient sages in obtaining the highest knowledge and perfection in like, which strives to create and establish a national system of education based on universal love, unity, and harmony.

Key Points

• In 2019-20, 38.5 million students enrolled in higher education, including 19.6 million males and 18.9 million females.
• The objective of higher education is following: 
• To seek and cultivate new information
• To engage in the spirit of truth with vigour and fearlessness
• To promote economic growth
• To interpret previous knowledge and beliefs in light of new demands and discoveries
• To provide appropriate leadership in all aspects of life
• To discover gifted youth and assist them in realizing their full potential
• To promote critical thinking
• To promote spiritual concerns that humanity faces
• To promote cultural and moral values

​Thus, Promoting economic growth and critical thinking are the objectives of higher education.

Additional Information

• Some Higher education commissions are mentioned below:  
• The University Education Commission -1948-49
• The Indian Education Commission (1964-66)
• The National Policy on Education-1986

The correct answer is - (A) and (C) only

Key Points

• Statement (A):  In 60 minutes, the minute hand gains 55 minutes on the hour hand 
• The minute hand completes 360° in 60 minutes.
• The hour hand moves 30° in 60 minutes.
• Thus, in 60 minutes, the minute hand gains 330° over the hour hand.
• Since each minute space = 6°, the gain equals 330° ÷ 6° = 55 minute spaces.
• Therefore, Statement (A) is correct.
• Statement (B): In every hour, both the hands coincide once 
• The hands coincide whenever the minute hand gains 60 minute spaces on the hour hand.
• The relative gain is 55 minute spaces per hour.
• Therefore, coincidence occurs every 65 5/11 minutes, not exactly every hour.
• In 12 hours, the hands coincide 11 times.
• Hence, Statement (B) is incorrect.
• Statement (C): When the two hands are at right angles, they are 15 minutes spaces apart. 
• A right angle between clock hands equals 90°.
• Each minute space represents 6° on a clock.
• Thus, 90° ÷ 6° = 15 minute spaces.
• Hence, when the hands are at right angles, they are 15 minute spaces apart.
• Therefore, Statement (C) is correct.

Additional Information

• Relative speed of clock hands
• The minute hand moves at 6° per minute.
• The hour hand moves at 0.5° per minute.
• The relative speed between them is 5.5° per minute.
• Coincidence frequency
• The hands coincide 11 times in 12 hours.
• Thus, in 24 hours, coincidence occurs 22 times.
• Right angle occurrences
• The clock hands form a right angle 22 times in 12 hours.
• Thus, in 24 hours, right angles occur 44 times.

Given:

If two trains of length x km and y km are moving in the same direction at u kmph and v kmph .

Where u > v.

Concept:

If two trains are moving in same direction so their relative speed = (u - v)km/h

If two trains are moving in opposite direction with  speeds of u km/h and v km/h respectively.

Then relative speed = (u + v) km/h

Formula:

Distance = Speed × Time

Calculation:

Statement I:

Speed of first train = u km/h

Speed of second train = v km/h

Relative Speed = (u - v)km/h

Distance cover = (x + y)km  

Time = \(\frac{x + y}{u - v}\) hours

Hence, Statement I is false.

Statement II:

If two trains are moving in opposite direction with  speeds of u km/h and v km/h respectively.

Then relative speed = (u + v) km/h

Hence, Statement II is correct.

∴ Statement I is false but statement II is true.

Nyaya philosophy of knowledge reveals both the subject and the object which are quite distinct from itself. Pramana is a valid means of knowledge.

• ' Nyaya accepts four valid means of knowledge viz. perception (pratyaksha), inference (anumana), testimony (shabda), and comparison (upmana).

Important Points

• Smoke Can't  Exist without fire also being present : There is fire on the hill (the pratijñā, thesis). Because there is smoke on the hill (the hetu, reason, or probans).
• Wherever there is smoke, there is fire like a kitchen hearth and unlike a lake (the udāharaṇa, illustration of concomitance).
• This hill is likewise smoky (the upanaya, application of the rule).Thus, there is fire on the hill (the nigamana, conclusion).

 Additional Information

• Fire Causes Smoke: This Statement is generalized, it's not necessary that fire will Cause Smoke. Thus this statement is wrong.

Therefore with the help of the above information, we can conclude that smoke cannot exist without fire also being present there.

Water pollution occurs when chemicals contaminate water sources, rendering the water unfit for drinking, cooking, cleaning, swimming, and other activities.

Key Points

• Some examples of water pollutants are chemicals, waste, bacteria, and parasites.
• Point-source pollutants in surface water and groundwater are typically found in a plume with the highest pollutant concentrations closest to the source and diminishing concentrations further away.
• The different forms of point-source contaminants present in water are as diverse as the businesses, industries, agricultural, and urban sources that produce them.
• Examples of point sources are sewage treatment plants, oil refineries, paper and pulp mills, chemical, vehicle, and electronics manufacturers, power plants, underground coal mines and factories.
• Point Sources such as wastes, soils, rocks, chemicals, microorganisms, suspended solids, heavy metals and pesticides are mixed with water.

Thus, Point sources of water pollution are underground coal mines, sewage treatment plants and power plants.

Additional Information

• ​Nonpoint-source pollution occurs when water flows across land or through the earth, picking up natural and man-made contaminants that end up in lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waterways, and even groundwater.
• Nonpoint-source pollutants are sediments, fertilizers, microbes, and toxins.

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an intergovernmental treaty-based organization with a global mandate to catalyze solar growth by lowering funding and technological costs.

Key Points

• The ISA aims to develop and deploy cost-effective and transformative solar-powered energy solutions to assist member countries in developing low-carbon growth paths.
• ISA's collaborations with multilateral development banks, development finance institutions, corporate and public sector organizations, civil society, and other international organizations.
• Some corporate partners of the International Solar Alliance Mission from India are mentioned below:
• National Thermal Power corporation
• Rural Electrification Corporation
• Power grid corporation
• India Trade Promotion Organisation
• National Hydroelectric Power Corporation
• Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited
• Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited
• Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited
• Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)

Thus, In the international Solar Alliance Mission, the National Thermal Power Corporation, Power grid corporation, Rural Electrification Corporation, and Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency entities are corporate Partners from India.

Additional Information

• The only foreign corporate partner is SOFT Bank is a Japanese multinational conglomerate.
• The ISA was conceived as a cooperative initiative between India and France to organize climate change efforts through the deployment of solar energy technologies.
• It is an Indian initiative that was launched on the sidelines of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP-21) on November 30, 2015, in Paris.
• The organization's headquarters are in India with an interim secretariat in Gurugram.

Indian higher education is one of the largest in the world in terms of enrolment ratio and student population.

Key Points

Assertion (A): Although in terms of the number of publications of research papers India is quite ahead of many countries, its position in the world Ranking of Universities is quite low. 

• According to data from a US government organization, India has become the world's third-largest publisher of science and engineering journals with over 1.35 lakh papers published.
• India's higher education doesn't perform well on many of the parameters used by international rankings.
• As compared to developed nations India's university ranking is very low.

Hence, the assertion is correct.

Reason (R): The quality of most of the research papers published by scholars from India is not very good. 

• According to Subash Lakhotia, a renowned academician at the Banaras Hindu University, the number of Indian research publications has risen to over but they are regretfully not making an impact abroad.
• The emeritus professor has blamed the country's science establishment, academies, and senior scientists for this problem in a hard-hitting editorial in the Current Science publication that is certain to spark a passionate debate.

Hence, the reason is also coorrect.

Therefore, both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Takshashila and Nalanda Universities from ancient times to India's wide literature incorporating themes from several fields which deal with holistic and multidisciplinary learning.

Key Points

• Ancient Indian literary works like Banabhatta's Kadambari define the good education which entitles knowledge of 64 kalaas.
• It included subjects like singing and painting, scientific fields like chemistry and mathematics, vocational fields like carpentry and clothes-making, 'professional' fields like medicine and engineering, and soft skills like communication, discussion, and debate.
• The notion that all forms of creative human endeavor, including mathematics, physics, vocational subjects, professional topics, and soft skills, should be classified as arts has Indian roots.
• This concept of knowledge of many arts, or what is now known as the liberal arts is brought into play.

Thus, Kadambari text gives importance has been given to multi-disciplinary education.

Communication is the sending and receiving of information and can be one-on-one or between groups of people, and can be face-to-face or through communication devices. 

Key Points

• Proxemics is the study of human use of space and the effects that population density has on behavior, communication, and social interaction.
• This message is sent to the receiver, a person who receives the message, and finally, the receiver must decode, or interpret the message. This sounds simple enough but is more complicated.

Important Points

• Communication zones. Depending on the distance from the display, the communication zones are: 
• Intimate Zone: The first zone is the short space or the intimate zone, which ranges from physical contact to 18 inches.
• Personal Zone: Personal space is usually between 1 and 4 feet. This is the best distance to create rapport and build relationships.
• Social Zone: Communication that occurs in the social zone, which is four to twelve feet away from our body, is typically in the context of professional or casual interaction, but not intimate or public. This distance is preferred in many professional settings.
• Public Zone: The public zone is more than twelve feet. Public speakers and important figures use space to distance themselves from their audience (and establish authority, since demanding more space is a power signal.

Therefore the correct sequence of communication based on their zones is an intimate zone, personal zone, social zone, and public zone.

Hence the correct order is (B), (C), (D), (A)

Shortcut Trick

Let the Selling Price (SP) of 1 pen be 1 unit.

Total SP of 24 pens = 24 units.

Loss = SP of 6 pens = 6 units.

Cost Price (CP) = SP + Loss = 24 + 6 = 30 units.

Loss % = (Loss ÷ CP) × 100 = (6 ÷ 30) × 100 = 20%.

∴ The correct answer is 20%.

Alternate Method

Given: Number of pens sold = 24, Loss = SP of 6 pens.

Formulas: Loss = CP − SP | Loss% = (Loss ÷ CP) × 100

⇒ Let SP of 1 pen = x.

⇒ SP of 24 pens = 24x.

⇒ Loss = 6x.

⇒ CP of 24 pens = SP + Loss = 24x + 6x = 30x.

⇒ Loss% = (6x ÷ 30x) × 100.

⇒ Loss% = (1 ÷ 5) × 100 = 20%.

∴ The correct answer is 20%.

Additional Information

Concept of Loss in terms of SP

When loss is expressed in terms of Selling Price, the Cost Price is always higher than the total units sold. Formula: CP = Units Sold + Loss Units.

Concept of Profit in terms of SP

When profit is expressed in terms of Selling Price, the Cost Price is lower than the total units sold. Formula: CP = Units Sold − Profit Units.

Given:

Final Price: Rs. 6561

Time n = 3 years

Rate R = - 10%p.a.

The rate is negative since the price is depreciating.

Formula Used:

Final Price = Initial Price × (1 + R/100)ⁿ 

Calculation:

Let the initial price = Rs. 

⇒ \(6561 = x [1 + \frac{(-10)}{100}]^3\)

⇒ \(6561 = x [1 - \frac{10}{100}]^3\)

⇒ \(6561 = x × \frac{9}{10} × \frac{9}{10} × \frac{9}{10}\)

⇒ \(x = 6561 × \frac{10}{9} × \frac{10}{9} × \frac{10}{9}\)

⇒ \(x = \frac{6561000}{729}\)

⇒ x = 9000

∴ The price of the mobile 3 years back is Rs. 9000.

Nyaya, (Sanskrit: “Rule” or “Method”) is one of the six systems (darshans) of Indian philosophy, important for its analysis of logic and epistemology. The major contribution of the Nyaya system is its working out in profound detail the means of knowledge known as inference.

Important Points

• Anumana is a Sanskrit word that means “inference” or “knowledge that follows.” It is one of the pramanas, or sources of correct knowledge, in Indian philosophy.
• Anumana is using observation, previous truths, and reason to reach a new conclusion and truth.
• Anumana consists of five steps: a hypothesis (pratijna), reason (hetu), an example (udaharana), reaffirmation (upanayana), and conclusion (nigamana).
• Paksa – The Thesis / Pratijna Proposition, The hill has fire
• Hetu – Reason or the ground, Because it has smoke.
• Drstanta – The corroboration, wherever there is smoke there is fire, as in the kitchen.
• Upanaya – The application, the hill is so.

Nigamana – the conclusion. Therefore the hill has fire.

​Therefore with the given information, we can conclude that Upanaya of Nyaya Philosophy has all the terms synthesized.

The World Wide Web is a universe of network-accessible information. 

Key Points Assertion (A): The Internet is one of the popular services offered on the World Wide Web (WWW). 

• The Internet is a worldwide network that connects computers.
• Internet service can send data from Internet servers to your machine
• Internet services various services such as transferring files, services for the World Wide Web, communication, directory assistance, information retrieval, Usenet, etc.

Thus,  Assertion (A) is false. 

Reason (R): The WWW is the universe of network-accessible information. 

• The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) defines WWW as the World Wide Web is an embodiment of human knowledge, a universe of network-accessible information.
• The World Wide Web is a collection of all Internet resources and users who use the Hypertext Transfer Protocol.
• World Wide Web started as a networked information project at CERN.
• In 1990, Tim Berners Lee invented the first web browser, "WorldWideWeb.

So, Reason (R) is true. 

Therefore, (A) is false but (R) is true.

The Ministry of Education (earlier name Ministry of Human Resource Development ) is responsible for the development of higher education facilities.

Key Points

Thus, (A) - (III), (B) - (I), (C) - (IV), (D) - (II)  is correct matching.

Aerosols are tiny solid particles or liquid droplets suspended in the air. Major dust storms, volcanic eruptions, and soot particles from large fires are the most common sources of solid aerosols in the atmosphere.

Key Points

• Continental aerosols originate throughout continents from industrial, urban, agricultural, forest, and desert sources.
• Natural origins account for the vast majority of aerosols (about 90% by mass).
• Sulfates are formed when volcanoes blast massive columns of ash into the air, along with sulfur dioxide and other gases.
• Organic carbon aerosols (OC) are the portion of carbonaceous aerosols that include carbon compounds.
• Ammonium aerosols are generated through such as coal combustion, NH3 slip, and vehicle exhaust.
• The principal elements of atmospheric aerosols produced by incomplete fossil fuel combustion vs biomass burning emissions are elemental carbon.

​So,  Sulphate ⇒ Organic carbon  ⇒ Ammonium ⇒  Elemental Carbon is the correct sequence in decreasing order of the composition (%) of the typical fine continental aerosols.

Storage device is any sort of computational hardware that is utilized for storing, transferring, or extracting data files and objects. 

Key Points

• Information can be temporarily or permanently stored on storage devices.
• They can be found both within and outside of a computer, server, or computing device.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thus, Magnetic Tape ⇒  Floppy Disk ⇒ CD-ROM ⇒ DVD is the correct order of development storage devices in the ascending order of their emergence.

The correct answer is 'Polio-free Africa'

Key Points

Let's look at the excerpt from the passage: ​ 

"The declaration by the World Health Organisation, (WHO) that the whole of Africa is free of the wild poliovirus is an important landmark in the worldwide battle against this affliction that has been waged for many decades. The world health body has rightly called it "historic" because as late as 2012 the continent had accounted for half of all polio cases worldwide."​

• In the given statement, the author is speaking about the declaration by the World Health Organisation, (WHO) that the whole of Africa is free of the wild poliovirus.
• The world health body has rightly called polio-free Africa as "historic" because as late as 2012 the continent had accounted for half of all polio cases worldwide.
• Hence it is evident that the polio-free Africa was declared 'Historic' by the WHO.

Thus, option 2 is the correct answer.

The correct answer is 'there is no cure for polio.'

Key Points

Let's look at the excerpt from the passage: ​ 

" There is no cure for polio which causes irreversible paralysis, mostly among children, and tens of thousands of people have suffered from it. The only protection comes from vaccination."​

• In the given statement, the author has stated that as there is no cure for polio vaccination becomes important.
• Hence it is evident that the polio vaccination is important for WHO as there is no cure for polio.

Thus, option 1 is the correct answer.

The correct answer is 'Asia.'

Key Points

Let's look at the excerpt from the passage: ​  

" The campaign against polio may be near its end with the success in Africa. The only two countries where the viral affliction is still present and is a live threat are Pakistan and Afghanistan."​

• In the given statement, the author has stated that the campaign against polio has been a success in Africa. Two countries where the viral affliction is still present and is a live threat are Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• Pakistan and Afghanistan are Asian countries.
• Hence it is evident that the countries still afflicted by polio are in Asia.

Thus, option 3 is the correct answer.

The correct answer is 'UN agencies'

Key Points

Let's look at the excerpt from the passage: ​  

" The worldwide campaign started in 1988 when the WHO and UNICEF came together to launch a vaccination program across the world."​

• In the given statement, the author has stated that in 1988 when the WHO and UNICEF came together to launch a vaccination program across the world."
• WHO and UNICEF are agencies governed by the United Nation. (UN)
• Hence it is evident that the worldwide campaign for the eradication of polio was launched by UN agencies.

Thus, option 3 is the correct answer.

The correct answer is 'C and D'

Key Points

Let's look at the excerpt from the passage: ​  

" The challenges were many. Every child in the world had to be reached and vaccinated, and the human effort for that and the logistics required were of an unprecedented scale. There were geographical and climatic challenges and difficulties like how to take the vaccine to nomadic communities. Disinformation and rumors that the vaccine would cause infertility or spread HIV were another problem."​

• In the given statement, the author has mentioned that there were many challenges. Like reaching to every child, logistics required for storage and transportation of vaccine, and disinformation regarding vaccination were quite a few among many challenges faced by WHO"
• Hence it is evident that the main challenges against polio vaccination programs were spread disinformation and Logistics.

Thus, option 4 is the correct answer.

A kilobyte is generally 210 or 1,024 bytes in data storage when describing digital logic. 

Key Points

• In Data storage, traditionally, a kilobyte is 2¹⁰ or 1,024 bytes.
• In 1998, this unit was established by  International Electrotechnical Commission.
• A traditional way to convert to bytes.

• We can write 8 Gigabytes is equivalent to 2³Giga bytes.
• Now, 1 GB = 2³⁰  bytes.
• So, 8 GB = ( 2³ + 2³⁰ ) bytes = 233 bytes.

​Thus, 233 bytes is equivalent to 8 Gigabytes.

In ancient India, both formal and informal ways of education system existed. 

Key Points

Thus, (A) - (II), (B) - (III), (C) - (IV), (D) - (I)  is correct matching.

Important Points

Hence the correct match is (A) - (III), (B) - (IV), (C) - (I), (D) - (II).

Key PointsIntension and extension, in logic, are correlative words that indicate the reference of a term or concept.

“intension” indicates the internal content of a term or concept that constitutes its formal definition, an “extension” indicates its range of applicability by naming the particular objects that it denotes.

Important Points

• When we define a term according to its intension, we define it according to its characteristics. “Cat,” is a furry, four-legged, meowing creature.
• When we define a term according to its extension, we define it according to the class or collection of things to which the term refers. “Cat” is a feline animal.
• We can also talk about increasing or decreasing intension.
• We can also talk about increasing or decreasing extension.
• Notice the inverse relations: a series of increasing intension is also a series of decreasing extension: biodegradable, edible, vegetable, broccoli.
• A series of increasing extension is also a series of decreasing intension: broccoli, vegetable, edible, biodegradable.
• In some cases, an intensional definition will make for a clearer sentence than an extensional definition, and vice versa.

Therefore in the given example following statements are true with reference to this series that it is in order of increasing intention and it is in order of decreasing extension.

Thus Only (A) and (D) is correct.